Flex pipe replaced four times within five years

Tiny
CHRISTINE542!
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  • 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 136,000 MILES
I am not sure why this keeps happening. Last time, I also replaced the motor mount hoping that this would prevent further issues. The repair shops have not indicated any underlying issues just the flex pipe. I feel like there has to be something else going on. It does not appear to be a common issue. Do you know what could be causing the flex pipe to wear out so quickly?
Tuesday, January 28th, 2020 AT 5:52 PM

8 Replies

Tiny
CHRISTINE542!
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Hello. Yes, it’s part of the muffler/exhaust. Thank you!
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Wednesday, January 29th, 2020 AT 2:54 PM
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
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Hello again,

As a general rule, flex pipe doesn't have the life expectancy that regular exhaust pipe has. This is do to it's nature, it is flexible, so in order to make it flexible, thinner materials are used. Thinner materials with multiple joints that enable the pipe to flex is not going to withstand the constant heat of a vehicle's exhaust as a thicker solid piece of exhaust pipe. It's just the nature of the beast. I would recommend seeing if there is any way of getting exhaust pipe bent to the specs you need and give that a try.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros
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Wednesday, January 29th, 2020 AT 3:36 PM
Tiny
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Thanks so much Alex!
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Wednesday, January 29th, 2020 AT 4:04 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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Good evening,

Just wanted to add to Alex response.

A lot of the times, those flex pipes fails from too much movement from the engine. Weak motor mounts will cause the pipe to flex way too much and it fails.

The reason for the pipe is movement of the engine. Since it sits sideways, it moves and if they did not have a flex pipe in the system, a pipe would actually fail.

Roy
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Thursday, January 30th, 2020 AT 7:12 PM
Tiny
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Thanks Roy. Last time, I did have the motor mount replaced with the flex pipe. This is why I was so surprised this happened again so quickly. It hasn’t even been 1.5 year this time.
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Friday, January 31st, 2020 AT 9:53 AM
Tiny
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There are several motor mounts on the engine. You have 3 mounts on the transmission and 1 one the engine. Any one of them with too much play can cause this issue.

Roy
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Friday, January 31st, 2020 AT 10:19 AM
Tiny
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Thank you for explaining.
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Friday, January 31st, 2020 AT 2:48 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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You are welcome.

Always glad to help.

Roy
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Friday, January 31st, 2020 AT 2:56 PM

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